Horror at Home - 'Short Affair' Challenge - July 6th

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

Prompts – Disarm/Pink
Word Count (approx.) – 390

Alexander Waverly was finally heading home following an extremely trying day. It had started with an attempted coup in South America, and had ended with a deputation from accounting demanding he curb Mr Solo’s expense claims. The coup was the easier to deal with.

Mr Waverly entered the house, following the usual security palaver, and was greeted by his wife.

“Good evening my dear,” he said, as he kissed her cheek. “How was your day?”

“It’s been wonderful, Alex,” Veronica Waverly enthused. “Your people finally came to start redecorating our bedroom.”

Veronica had been nagging her husband for weeks about changing the décor, but because of his position, they couldn’t just hire anyone. The solution was to utilise the housekeeping and maintenance team from HQ.

“Come and take a look.”

Waverly couldn’t help but smile at his wife’s excitement. She always loved a project. The smile evaporated upon seeing her choice of colour. Everything was pink; many different shades of pink. He gazed around with his mouth agape, trying to formulate a response.

“What do you think, dear?” Mrs Waverly asked him.

Her words snapped him from his horror, and he pointed at the person who was cheerily painting the walls.

“Disarm that man!” He demanded.

“It’s a paintbrush not a gun,” Veronica stated sadly. “And, I take it you aren’t keen on the palette.”

Alexander looked into his wife’s eyes and realised his reaction had hurt her.

“I’m sorry,” he told her, pulling her in for a hug. “It’s just a little too much for my taste. I have nothing against the colour per se, but could we perhaps tone it down just a little?”

Pulling his unused handkerchief from his pocket, Mr Waverly gently dabbed at the corner of Veronica’s eyes. He always did that when she was upset, and it made her fall in love with him all over again, every time.

“I did tell you at breakfast what I was going to do” she told him. “I should know by now that, when you’re behind that newspaper, it would take one of Mr Kuryakin’s explosive devices to get your attention.”

Waverly kissed her on the cheek again and took hold of her hand.

“Come on, dear. I’m sure dinner is almost ready, and we can discuss any other plans you may have for this house.


The End.

Comments

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

A very nice scene. The security palavers are well thought. Nice bit about the deputation from accounting, too.

I love “Disarm that man!”. Poor painter, he's probably suffering from pink fatigue.

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

Thank you. That poor painter was quite happy in his work, until Mr Waverly arrived :-)

[otherhawk.livejournal.com]

Oh, this was really cute, thank you. The deputation from accounting made me laugh out loud. I bet Napoleon doesn't even keep all his receipts and somehow gets his expenses paid anyway.

Also, how annoyed must the maintenance team be that they're going to have to start over? Ah, well, I bet they get well paid.

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

It's probably bad enough having to paint your boss's house, without him announcing he hates it.

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

Yikes, shades of Sparky's Little Pink Chateau! At least he regretted his reaction and was sweet about it. Poor thing.

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

Mr Waverly has always struck me as the kind of man who is hard and ruthless, but can't bear to see his wife upset.

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

She is his Achilles Heel, to be sure. Many men of power are like that ;)

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Brilliant! :D I would be repeating but everything Laurose pointed out helped 'paint' this scene so vividly.

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I made myself chuckle with 'Disarm that man' :-)

[lindafishes8.livejournal.com]

Here's my gift for poor Mr. Waverly!

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

:-D It definitely would be like sleeping in a bottle of that stuff.

[jkkitty.livejournal.com]

I think he should listen this time

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

He's just like most men :-)

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

In the pink takes on an entirely new meaning. A sweet homage to enduring love.

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much :-)